This document will detail the usage of the ACTAtek Backup Lite command-line application.

Description:

The ACTAtek Backup Lite application consists of two parts, an executable and a configurations file. The executable, actaback.exe, is used to create configuration files and perform the actual backups. Since the application is executed from a Windows command prompt, it can be incorporated into batch files, the Windows Task Scheduler or used manually via the Windows Command Prompt or a Windows Shortcut.

Installation:

Windows Installer:

The ACTAtek Backup Lite application require Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0. If the required files do not exist on the computer, the Installer will attempt to connect to the internet and download the necessary files. This action may require the user to be logged in with Administrator privileges!

Configuration:

The ACTAtek Backup Lite application uses encrypted files to store backup configurations. If no configuration file is specified when running the application, a default file - "default.config" - will be used. However, multiple configuration files can be created and executed to provide added flexibility.

Simple Configuration:

Note: Install the application using the ACTAtek Backup Lite Installer. This will allow you to simply click on Start -> All Programs -> ACTAtek Tools Suite -> ACTAtek Backup Lite -> Configuration Manager to open the Configuration Manager using the default configuration file.

Start the Configuration Manager.

At the Main Menu, press "a" to "Add new ACTAtek to configuration"

Enter a description for the ACTAtek unit that will clearly indicate which unit is being configured for backup. The description could be a name such as "Front Door" or even the unit's IP address. Each backup file generated will be named with the description then the date and time of the backup. Press ENTER when finished.

Enter the ACTAtek unit's IP address. For example, the default IP of an ACTAtek is "192.168.1.100". Press ENTER when finished.

Enter a Super Administrator's user ID. For example, the default Super Administrator's user ID on an ACTAtek is "A999". Press ENTER when finished.

Enter the password for the Super Administrator. For example, the default password A999 on an ACTAtek is "1". Press ENTER when finished.

Enter the Full path to folder where you would like save the backup files for this ACTAtek unit. For example, "C:\ACTAtek\Front Door" would place all of the backup files for this ACTAtek unit on the C drive in the "Front Door" folder under the "ACTAtek" folder. Press ENTER when finished.

The Configuration Manager will test the setting by connecting to the specified unit, logging in and querying the unit. Press any key to start the test.

If the test is successful, press "y" to save the configuration. Press any other key to abort.

Repeat the above process until the configuration is complete for all ACTAtek units.

This process can be used for single or multiple ACTAtek units. It is also possible to configure the same unit two or more times changing the path where the backup files are saved. For instance, saving a backup on a local hard drive as well as a network drive would provide a simple level of redundancy.

Creating Multiple Configuration Files:

It is possible to create multiple configuration files. Having multiple configuration files allows for multiple backup schemes. For instance, using the Windows Task Scheduler, every night one configuration could be used to save a backup of all the primary units to the local hard. An alternate Task Schedule and configuration file could be used to save a weekly backup of all the primary units to a network drive.

The following example will create two different configurations:

Click on Start -> Run

Type "cmd" into the text box and click OK to open a command console

Type "cd" followed by a space then the path that the ACTAtek Backup Lite files. For example, user a standard installation the entire command might lok like the following: "cd C:\Program Files\ACTAtek Tools Suite\ACTAtek Backup Lite"

The current directory should now be the path typed in the previous step.

Type "dir" and press enter. This should list files including the "actaback.exe" file.

Create the first configuration by typing "actaback.exe -c" followed by a space and the name for the configuration file that is being created. In this example we would type the following: "actaback.exe -c daily.config"

Follow the process detailed in the Simple Configuration section above the add the ACTAtek units to the configuration. This configuration may be used to save the backup files on a local drive for daily backups.

At the command prompt, type the following: "actaback.exe -c weekly.config"

Follow the process detailed in the Simple Configuration section above the add the ACTAtek units to the configuration. This configuration may be used to save the backup files on a networdrive for weekly backups.

There are now two seperate configuration files that can be used to backup the ACTAtek units. The Windows Task Scheduler could be used to schedule the daily and weekly backups (see below).

Making Backups:

Manual backup when installed using the ACTAtek Backup Lite Installer:

The ACTAtek Backup Lite Installer creates shortcut icons in Start -> All Programs -> ACTAtek Tools Suite -> ACTAtek Backup Lite. To use the "Run Default Backup" shortcut a default configuration must be created using the steps detailed in the Simple Configuration section above.

After the configuration is created and saved, you manual backup can be performed by simple clicking on the Start -> All Programs -> ACTAtek Tools Suite -> ACTAtek Backup Lite -> Run Default Backup shortcut.

Using Microsoft Windows Task Scheduler to automate backups:

Task Scheduler with Default Configuration File

The Microsoft Windows Task Scheduler can be used to schedule automated backups of the ACTAtek systems. Use the following steps to create a task that will backup the ACTAtek units using the default configuration file:

Click on Start -> Control Panel

Depending on the view, double-click on Scheduled Task or Performance and Maintenance -> Scheduled Tasks.

Double-Click on Add Scheduled Task.

If a welcome screen is displayed, click on Next.

In the scroll through the list of applications and select "Run Default Backup" and click Next. If "Run Default Backup" does not exist in the list, use the steps outlined in Task Scheduler with Custom Configuration Files (see below).

Continue through the wizard specifying dates and frequency that the backups should be performed.

If the title of the task was not changed, the new "Run Default Backup" task should exist in the Scheduled Tasks window. To test the task, right-click on the new task and choose Run. A command prompt should display and present a few messages. The screen will disappear when the backups are complete.

Verify that the backup file was created in the correct location.

Task Scheduler with Custom Configuration Files

Click on Start -> Control Panel

Depending on the view, double-click on Scheduled Task or Performance and Maintenance -> Scheduled Tasks.

Double-Click on Add Scheduled Task.

If a welcome screen is displayed, click on Next.

Click the Browse button. Use the Browse dialog to select the actaback.exe file from the installation directory.

Continue to configure the task until the last sceen is displayed. Select the checkbox labeled "Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish" so that a check mark appears on the box.

Click on the Finish button to display the Advanced Properties dialog.

The Run option will have the path to the actaback.exe file in quotation marks. Typically the option would show the following: "C:\Program Files\ACTAtek Tools Suite\ACTAtek Backup Lite\actaback.exe"

Add a space and the name of the desired configuration file to the end of the setting. For example: "D:\Program Files\ACTAtek Tools Suite\ACTAtek Backup Lite\actaback.exe" daily.config

Note: If the configuration file does not exist in the same folder as the actaback.exe file the full path the configuration file must be presented in quotes. For example: "D:\Program Files\ACTAtek Tools Suite\ACTAtek Backup Lite\actaback.exe" "C:\ACTAtek Config\daily.config"

Click OK to save the settings.

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